- Ross Bonetti
"Livingspace was built from my lifelong appreciation for modern design and a passion for fine craftsmanship."
The Livingspace Story
A family company, Livingspace began as a small 3000 square foot store on Vancouver’s North Shore, founded in 1988 on Vancouver native Ross Bonetti’s vision of becoming Vancouver’s top European furniture design retailer. Achieving it however, meant forging into unknown territory, as Vancouver’s furniture industry at that time was dominated by the popular trend of traditional American furniture.
A visit to the Milan Furniture Fair that same year reaffirmed the idea for what Livingspace could become. The acquisition of its first major European brands - Ligne Roset from France, and Minotti from Italy - put Livingspace on a trajectory unlike those of other furniture stores, positioning itself to fill a gap in the Vancouver furniture market.
Within two years, Livingspace had outgrown its home and more space was required. A second location was opened in Vancouver’s Yaletown neighbourhood, and soon thereafter both locations were amalgamated into a single 12,000 square foot building in the old Jantzen Swimwear factory on Kingsway and Broadway.
Throughout the following decade, Livingspace continued to grow and evolve, broadening the scope of its business. Annual trips to Milan brought on board an ever-expanding range of some of the most coveted brands in the world, creating strong partnerships and lasting friendships along the way with the top European manufacturers, which continue to this day.
10 years after the company’s first expansion, Livingspace added bespoke Italian kitchens and closets to its slate of products and services, which meant another expansion was in the offing. The perfect opportunity presented itself in 2010 in the form of an old printing factory in Vancouver’s newly minted Armoury Design district. The industrial flair of the six story concrete building provided an ideal backdrop and contrasting character to Livingspace’s modern aesthetic.
The move coincided perfectly with the next chapter in Livingspace’s evolution, as the company added many talented design-savvy professionals to its team in a move toward increased engagement with the design community and its retail partners.
Today, Livingspace is Vancouver’s market leader in supplying the complete modern luxury home. Western Canada’s premier destination for designer Italian furniture, kitchens, closets, baths and lighting, we offer the widest range of top European designer brands in Western Canada, many of which we have been exclusive to Livingspace for over 34 years.